Labeling-machine.



Patented Aug. 28, |900.

lNo. 656,789. w c JOHNSON LABELING MACHINE.

' (Application filed Oct. 18, 1899.) y (No model.) 2 sheets-sum1.

Q mf llll'flllllllll e ggf?" i fm s N No. 656,789. Patented Aug. 28,|900` W. C. JOHNSON. LABELING MACHINE.

(Appl cat on led Oct 13 1899 1 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 (No Model.)

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Ninn PATENT rms,

VALLACE O. JOHNSON, OF BOLIVAR, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JAMES'H. HOWE, OF SAME PLACE.

LABELING-lVlACl-lINE..v

SPEGliFCATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 656,789, dated August28, 190D.

Application led October 13,1899. Serial No. 733,527. (No model.)

T @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, WALLACE O. JOHN- y SON, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Bolivar, in the county of-Polk and State ofMissouri, have invented a new and useful Labeling-Machine, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in machinesfor afxinglabels to cansand other cylindrical objects, such as bottles, boxes, and the like; andthe leading object of the. invention is t-o utilize the gravity androlling motion of a cylindrical article to actuate devices by whichpaste is rst applied to the article, the label is moved into the path ofthe article for one end of said label to adhere thereto, paste issupplied to the other end of the label, and the label is rolled neatlyand smoothly around the can.

A further object is to provide a label-carrier adapted to contain alarge number of4 labels, with means by which the labels are pressed intothe path of the rolling article with a yielding pressure and to combineWith said label-carrier a positive feed mechanism, which is actuatedautomatically to move said label-carrier a very slight distance eachtime a can passes thereover and picks up a label.

Afurther object is to provide novel devices by which the paste isapplied to the can and to the label, the label-pasting device beingmovable automatically on the Withdrawal of one label to apply pastetothe next label in the pile or stack.

With these ends in view. the invention consists in the novel combinationof mechanisms and in the construction and arrangement of the variousparts for service, as Will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

To enable others to understand the invention I have illustrated apreferred embodiment thereof in the accompanying drawings, forming apart of this specification, and in which Figure l is a plan view of alabel-afxing machine constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2is a longitudinal sectional elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is an enlargeddetail sectional view through the receiving end of the machine,illustrating the means for applying the paste to the rolling article,the

- appear.

paste-Wiper, and the article-actuated trip-lever by which thelabel-carrier is moved. Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical sectionalelevation on the plane indicated by the dotted line 44 of Fig. l. Fig. 5is a det-ail horizontal sectional view taken in the plane indicated bythe dotted line 575 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail sectionalView of the verticallymovable gravity paste mechanism by which the pasteis supplied to one end of each label in the stack or pile on thelabel-carrier. Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of the label-carrierremoved from the machine.

The same numerals of reference are used to indicate like andcorresponding parts in each of the several figures of the drawings.

The table l0 of the machine is inclined from its receiving end to thedischarge end in order that the cans or other articles may rollbygravity thereon, and this table is supported at a suitable height abovethe floor by the legs, as shown in Fig. 2. Said table is provided With alongitudinal slot or opening l1 except at the places Where the head andtail boards are secured thereto, as Will hereinafter A The table isclosed at its sides by the walls 12, which are joined together by thebottom 13, the Wholeforming a longitudinal chamber or inclosure 14,Within which is contained the pasting devices, the label-carrier,

and the devices for actuating the label-carrier. l

l5 designates the inclined headboard.,which is arranged at one end (theupper) of the table, on which headboard the cans or other articles areintended to be placed by hand,

one' after the other.

An inclined runway for the cans or articles `is arranged` in the`opening or slot of the table longitudinally thereof and between the headand tail boards of the machine. This runway consists of the flangedtrack-rails 1G 17, which are secured to the sides l2 of the table, so asto occupy parallel relation one to the other, and these track-rails arearranged to present inwardly-extended surfaces for the travel of thearticles thereon and to also present upstanding surfaces, betweenrwhichthe articles are confined against displacement on the machine-table,whereby the articles are guided by the runway to travel over the sev-ICO ' inclosure 14.

A paste-trough 19 is arranged in the chamber or inclosure of the tableat a point contiguous to and below the inclined plane of the head board15, said trough adapted to contain the paste or other cementitiousmaterial which is to be applied to the articles as they travelthereover. A vibrating paste-arm 2O is supported over the paste-troughand normally disposed in the path of the rolling articles as they travelalong lthe runway, said arm being counterpoised and adapted to bedeiiected bythe weight of the can or other article in order to enter thetrough each time the can passes over said arm, thereby keeping thepaddle of the arm continuously supplied with the cementitious substance.This vibrating arm is bowed or curved at 21, and to its free end issecured a paddle 22, which may be of any suitable form or-material, saidpaddle arranged transversely across the slot or opening 11 in the tableand between the parallel track-rails of the runway, the length of thepaddle being equal nearly to the length of the article. The vibratingarm is extended or curved at its heel in a downward direction for thepurpose of fastening the same to a horizontal pivotal shaft 23, which issupported in suitable bearings in the sides of the table, and extendingrearward from this shaft and the vibrating arm is a counterpoisearm 24,having a drop-weight 25. This counterpoise-arm is of sufficient weightto slightly overbalance the vibrating arm and its paddle, vand saidcounterpoised arm is adapted normally to rest upon the paste-trough orother suitable stop, as represented by full lines in Fig. 3, whereby thepaddle is maintained in its position normallyin the path of an articletraversing the runway, while the bowed or curved part of the arm 2O isprojected slightly above the track-surface of the runway. As the articlerolls along the track it strikes the paddle suddenly and with sufficientmomentum to depress the vibrating arm and make its curved surface liebelow the track,whereby the article is free to pass the arm 20, and theipaddle 22 is made to dip into the paste-trough, (see dotted lines inFig. 3,) thus renewing the supply of paste on the paddle. The depressionof the vibrating arm 2O raises the counterpoise-arm into the path of thearticle, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3, thus momentarily arrestingthe progress of the article along the runway; but theweight 25 now actsby gravity to return the parts to their norm al positions, thus causingt-he bowed part of the Vibrating arm 20 to strike against the articleand give an impulse thereto along the runway. It is to be understoodthat the paddle of the vibrating arm is supplied with paste, which isapplied or transferred to the article when it strikes said paddle, andas the paddle is depressed in the paste-trough each time an articlepasses the arm it is kept constantly supplied with the cementitiousmaterial.

In connection with the devices for applying paste to the can I employ awiper which is supported over the runway at a suitable distance in rearof the paddle on the vibrating arm, said wiper adapted to frictionallybrush against the can or article as it pursues its path along the runwayin order to distribute the paste over a part of the surface of thearticle, and thus prevent the paste from accumulating at one point orline and oozing beyond the edge of the label which is to be applied tothe article at a point farther along the runway. This wiper is carriedby a yoke or frame 26, which is secured to the sides of the table, andthe wiper comprises a series of bristles or other suitable material27,the same being secured to a brush-head 28, that is attached in asuitable Way to the yoke or frame.

The chamber or inclosure 14 of the table is divided by a wall orpartition 29, the same being equipped with a guide 29 for thereciprocating rod of the feed mechanisimrassociated with thelabel-carrier 30. Said carrier is arranged in an inclined positionwithin the chamber ory inclosure 14, so as to lie below the runway, theupper extremity of said carrier being contiguous to the abrupt depres-.sion 18 in the track-rails of said runway.

The carrier is movably supported within the tablethat is to say, it maybe confined against endwise movement by a stop or hinge 3l, whichpermits the free end of the carrier to be lifted slightly each time anarticle takes a label from the carrier, thus permitting the label to besupplied successively to the articles which traverse the runway oneafter the other. Said carrieris provided with a curved or bowedpressure-spring 32, which is applied or secured to the upper side ofsaid carrier in a position for the stack or pile of labels to restthereon, as shown by Fig. 2, said spring serving to force the labelsupward with a yielding pressure. It is to be understood that a stack oflabels rests on this inclined label-carrier, and to prevent displacementof the labels on said inclined carrier I employ an upright frame 301L atthe lower end of the carrier. This frame is made fast with the carrier,so as to extend upward a suitable distance therefrom, thus presentingtwo side pieces, against which the lower edges of the stack of labelsmay rest. The upright frame is shown as provided with a cross-rail 30",which is fastened to the top edges of the upright pieces 30, and thiscross-rail may have one edge thereof extended a suitable distance inrear of the uprights, as at 30", the projecting edge affording means forthe attachment of a fastening device which may be employed to looselyconnect the upright frame to the table 50. As will hereinafter appear,the vertically-movable paste-can 44 is used in connection with thelabel-carrier, and the upright frame 30a may be provided with notches30h, adapted to receive a projecting portion of the can, whereby thecubical area of the can may be enlarged to increase the TOO IIO

capacity of the paste-receptacle. This is a minor feature, however, andthe construction of the can to fit in the notches is not disclosed bythe drawings. t V

A positive feed mechanism is combined with the movable label-carrier forthe purpose of gradually lifting its free end each time `a label isdrawn therefrom by the articles passing along the runway. This feedmechanism includes as one elementthereof a finethreaded feed-screw 33,which works in a nut 34, attached to a supporting-arm 35, the latterbeing fixed to the partition 29. The feedscrew is supported in avertical'position for its upper end to engage with the label-carrier ina manner to support the unconiined or free end thereof. The feed-screwis rotated or turned in its bearing-nut with'a step-by-step motion asthe cans or articles travel successively along the runway, and to thisend I employ the feed-wheel 36, a reciprocating rod 238, and thearticle-actuated lever 40. The feed-wheel is made fast with thefine-threaded vertical screw, preferably at the lower end thereof, andsaid wheel is provided with spurs, pockets, or ratchet-teeth 37. Thereciprocating rod 38 is fitted slidably in the Xed guide 29EL of thepartition, one end of said rod having a prong or tooth 89, adapted toengage with the spurs or teeth 37 of the feed-wheel. The lever 40 isfulcrumed at a point intermediate of its length at 4l, so as to liebetween the can-pasting device and the label-carrier. The lower arm ofthis lever has a counterpoise 42, while theupper arm of the lever isbent to form a nose 43, which normally projects above the track-rails,so as to lie in the path of an article traversing the runway. Thereciprocating rod 38 is connected with the trip-lever 40 at a pointbetween its fulcrum and the counterpoise, and said rod communicates themotion of the lever when depressed by an object striking its nose to thefeedwheel, which in turn operates the screw to slightly raise thelabel-carrier. p

It is to be understood that as an article rolls along the runway pasteis supplied to the article by the paddle on the vibrating arm, and whenthis article reaches the depression 18 in the runway it drops suddenlytherein, so that the pasted surface of the article is presented to theuppermost label in the stacker pile on the label-carrier, whereby oneend of the label is applied to the article and is partly rolled thereonas it pursues its path along the runway. I t is necessary to secure thefree end of the label to the can, and I have provided a novel devicebywhich paste is supplied to the end of the label which is wrapped aroundthe article, said paste-supplying mechanism acting automatically toapply the paste to one end of the labels as they are withdrawnsuccessively from the label-carrier by the rolling objects. In carryingthis part of my invention into practice I provide a vertically-movablepaste-can 44. (See Figs. l and 6.) A supporting-stem 45 is securedfirmly to the rear side of this paste-can, said stem extending below thecan andiitting loosely in a slot 4G, which is provided in thelabel-carrier 30 and may be provided in the bottom of the table. Thepaste-can is supported by its stem over a part of the label-carrier inorder to rest by gravity upon one end of the stack or pile of labels onsaid carrier, thus arranging the paste-can to engage with the uppermostlabel and permitting the label to be withdrawn from the stack or pile.In its bottom the paste-can has a slot or opening 47, in which works apastedistributing roller 48, the latter being journaled in suitablebearings on the can so as to turn freely. upon the top label of the pileor stack, and when said label is withdrawn the roller is turned in thestack, so as to present its coated surface to the neXt label in thepile.V

A lip 49 is secured firmly to the underside of the paste-can in aposition in rear of the roller, said lip and roller resting on thelabels to maintain the paste-can in proper position thereon.

50 designates a tail-board, which is secured to the table in an inclinedposition at the lower part thereof. This tail-board is continuous withthe track-rails and its upper surface is made soft or yielding by theemployment of a pad or lining 5l. A stop or abutment 52 occupies avertical position at the rear extremity of the tail-board, said abutmenthaving a cushioned surface 53, against which the articles are adapted toimpinge previous to their removal by hand from the machine.

The operation may be described brieliy as follows: The article is placedon the headboard, so as to roll by gravity thereover and along therunway. The article strikes against the paddle which applies the pasteto the surface thereof and the wiper distributes the paste over thesurface of said article. As it pursuesl its course along the runway thearticle strikes the lever 40 to actuate the feed mechanism for thelabel-carrier, the tail end of the label on said carrier being pastedfrom the gravity-actuated can 44. The rolling article drops at thedepression 18 upon the label withsufficient force to insure the adhesionof said label to the pasted surface of the article, and as the articlepursues its path along the runway it rolls the label partly around thesame and withdraws the pasted free end from the gravity paste-can. Therotation of the article over the lined surface of the tail-boardcompletes the wrapping and application of the label to the article. Itis to be understood that the articles are placed one af'ter the other onthe headboard, and they are removed in like manner from the tail-board.

The machine maybe used for labeling cans, bottles, boxes, and othercylindrical articles, and its moving parts are actuated entirely bygravitythat is to say, without the employment of power-drivenappliances-the weight and fall of the rolling article being Thisdistributing roller rests ICC IIO

sential features are retained and the spirit of` the invention embodied.Hence I do not desire to be limited to the precise form of ally theparts as shown, reserving the right toI to the bottom of the receptacle,and a guidevary therefrom.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is- 1. In acan-labeling machine, the combinai tion of an inclined runway, apaste-trough, located beneath the runway, a vibrating armi carrying apaddle located in the path of thev cans and adapted to be thrown by thesame i into the paste-trough said arm being provided y )with a bowedportion extending above the bottom of the runway and arranged to engageand increase the speed ot' the cans, and a counterpoise-arm connectedwith the vibrating arm and slightly overbalancing the The machine beingen# ancing the same and normally resting upon and supported by thepaste-trough, a movable label-'carrier, a lever arranged in the path ofthe cans and located adjacent to the vibrating arm and adapted to beengaged by the cans immediately after their speed has been increased bythe said vibrating arm, and mechanism positively connected with thelever and operated by the same for gradually raising the label-carrier,substantially as described. v,

3. In a can-labeling machine, a verticallymovable paste-receptaclehaving a slot in its bottom, a roller journaled in said receptacle andworking freely in the slot, a bearing-lip arranged at one side ot'saidroller and fixed stem fastened to the receptacle and extending belowthe same, in combination with a runway, a can-pasting mechanism thereon,

and alabel-carrier having one end fitted beneath the movablepaste-receptacle, substantially as described.

4. In a can-labeling machine, the combination of a runway, avertically-movable labelcarrier provided with a slot, avertically-movable paste-receptacle supported by the labelcarrier andadapted to rest upon the lower ends of the labels and open at itsbottom, a guide-stem depending from the paste-receptacle and extendingthrough the slot of the label-carrier, and a bearing-lip depending fromthe paste-receptacle and located in rear of the slot or opening of thesame, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WALLACE C. JOHNSON.

Witnesses:

H. J. GRIFFIN, H. F. SGHULTZ.

